Rhododendron plant named &#39;HOMLEC&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Rhododendron  cultivar named ‘HOMLEC’ is disclosed, characterized by distinctive white flowers with occasional pink linear blotches. Plants bloom Spring, Summer and Fall. The new cultivar is a  Rhododendron , suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Rhododendron hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘HOMLEC’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program by the inventor, Robert Edward Lee. The inventor's intention was to develop Rhododendron hybrid plants with re-blooming characteristics. This new variety, hereinafter referred to as ‘HOMLEC’, was discovered as a seedling, resulting from the crossing of Rhododendron ‘Red Slipper’, unpatented with the pollen parent Rhododendron ‘Conleb’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,581. The cross was performed during 2000, and the new variety selected by the inventor during 2004 in Independence, La.

After identifying the new variety as a potentially interesting selection, the inventor first organized propagation of ‘HOMLEC’ by vegetative cuttings during Fall of 2004 at a commercial nursery in Independence, La. The inventor continued confidential and controlled testing and propagation, assessing stability of the unique characteristics of this variety. Multiple generations have been reproduced and have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘HOMLEC’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘HOMLEC’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘HOMLEC’ as a new and distinct Rhododendron cultivar:

1. Unique Spring, Summer, and Fall blooming.

2. Red-orange flowers.

3. Easily propagated with semi-hardwood cuttings in late Spring through the Summer.

4. Good specimen plant.

5. Excellent performance in containers.

6. Vigorous growth under normal fertilization and moisture conditions.

7. Upright plant habit.

8. Hardy to Zone 7.

9. Attracts butterflies.

10. Large, single flowers.

COMPARISON TO PARENT VARIETY

‘HOMLEC’ is similar in most horticultural characteristics to the seed parent variety Rhododendron hybrid ‘Red Slipper’. Plants of the new cultivar ‘HOMLEC’ however, produce red-orange flowers compared to the pink flowers of the parent variety. Additionally, plant habit is overall less compact in the new variety, compared to the seed parent.

‘HOMLEC’ is similar in most horticultural characteristics to the pollen parent Rhododendron hybrid ‘Conleb’. Plants of the new cultivar ‘HOMLEC’ however, produce single flowers, whereas ‘Conleb’ produces deep orange red semi-double flowers. Additionally, plant habit of ‘HOMLEC’ is narrow and upright whereas the pollen parent has a plant shape which is more globose.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘HOMLEC’ can be compared to the commercial variety Rhododendron hybrid ‘Roblen’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,248. Plants of the new cultivar ‘HOMLEC’ are similar to plants of ‘Roblen’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘HOMLEC’ produce single flowers whereas as flowers of ‘Roblen’ are semi-double. Additionally, flowers of ‘HOMLEC’ are darker than flowers of ‘Roblen’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a close up of typical flowers of the new variety. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘HOMLEC’ plants grown outdoors in Loxley, Ala. Plants are approximately 2 years old, in a 3 gallon nursery container. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Rhododendron hybrid ‘HOMLEC’ -   Propagation: Typically by semi-hardwood cuttings in Spring and     Summer.     -   -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous young roots, well branched.             Colored near RHS Grey-Brown 199A. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Compact, globular shrub.         -   Height.—Approximately 48 cm to top of foliar and flowering             plane.         -   Plant spread.—Approximately 43 cm.         -   Branching characteristics.—Well branched, approximately 4             primary branches from the center of the plant. Branches             occur at approximately 45° to 75° angles. Each primary             branch has 6 to 10 lateral branches.         -   Primary branches.—.         -   Length of primary branches.—Average 30 cm.         -   Diameter of primary branches.—Approximately 0.6 cm.         -   Primary branch strength.—Very strong, difficult to break.         -   Primary branch color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 151A, heavily             flushed Greyed-Orange 175A. With age, covered with a thin             bark like layer colored near Greyed-Orange 174A.         -   Primary branch texture.—Young growth hirsute. Hairs,             approximately 0.15 cm long, colored near Greyed-Orange 175A.             Older growth scaly, hirsute. Hairs colored near White 155D.         -   Lateral branches.—         -   Number of lateral branches.—Approximately 6 to 10 per             primary branch.         -   Length of lateral branches.—Average 12 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—Average 0.4 cm.         -   Lateral branch strength.—Very strong, flexible.         -   Lateral branch color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 151A, flushed             with Greyed-Orange 175C.         -   Lateral branch texture.—Hirsute.         -   Internode length.—Average 1.0 cm.         -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 2 years. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Type: Simple Arrangement: Alternate Average Length:             Approximately 5.0 cm. Average Width: Approximately 1.9 cm.             Shape of blade: Broad elliptic. Apex: Acute or Murcronate.             Base: Broad attenuate. Attachment: Stalked Margin: Entire.             Texture of top surface: Pubescent. Hairs appressed. Texture             of bottom surface: Pubescent. More hairs present along main             vein and margin. Color: Young foliage upper side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 146A Young foliage under side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 146C Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green             139A Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146C             Venation: Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 153D Venation color under side: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 153B Petiole: Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter:             About 0.3 cm Color: Upper Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green             153D Lower Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 153B. -   Flower:     -   -   Bloom period.—Plants flower in the Spring, then begin             intermittent flowering cycles in late Spring/Summer through             Fall.         -   Flower.—         -   Arrangement.—Axillary clusters of perfect, open funnel             shaped individual flowers. Typically 5 to 10 flowers per             cluster.         -   Inflorescence.—Height: Average 10.0 cm. Diameter: Average             12.0 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Length: Average 4.0 cm. Diameter: 0.3 cm. Color:             Near RHS Yellow-Green 151A, slightly flushed with             Greyed-Orange 175C. Texture: Densely pubescent. Aspect:             Straight to very slightly curved. Angle of attachment,             approximately 35° angle from stem.         -   Flowers.—Length: Average 3.9 cm. Diameter: Average 6.0 cm.             Facing direction: Outwardly and upwardly facing. Persistent             or self-cleaning: Petals self-cleaning Fragrance: None.         -   Tube.—Tube length: Approximately 1.6 cm Tube width a widest             point: Approximately 1.8 cm Tube width and narrowest point:             Approximately 0.9 cm.         -   Petals.—Unfused petal segments: Length: Approximately             2.5 cm. Width: Approximately 2.7 cm Apex: Blunt, rounded             with shallow, irregular lobes Shape of petal: Unfused             portion, obovate. Petal margin: Entire. Petal Arrangement:             Approximately ⅓ fused from base. Petal Number: 5 Petal             Texture: Smooth Color: Upper surface at first opening: Near             RHS Orange-Red N34A. Under surface at first opening: Near             RHS Orange-Red N34A. Inner surface at maturity: Near RHS Red             42A Outer surface at maturity: Near RHS Red 42B Upper             surface at fading: Near RHS Red 42B Under surface at fading:             Near RHS Red 42B.         -   Bud.—Shape: Elliptic Length: 2.9 cm Diameter: 1.2 cm Color:             Near RHS Orange-Red N34A.         -   Calyx/sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5 sepals Shape: Narrow             deltate Length: 0.8 cm Width: 0.3 cm Apex: Acute Base: Fused             Margin: Entire Texture: Highly pubescent Color: Inner             Surface: Near RHS Green 137A Outer Surface: Near RHS Green             137A. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 10 Length: 3.0 cm Width: 0.1 cm Color: Near             RHS Red 42A Anthers: Length: Approximately 0.3 cm Color:             Near RHS Red 46B Pollen: Scant, colored near Greyed-Orange             164D.         -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: 4.2 cm. Style: Length: 3.9 cm.             Color: Near RHS Red 42A Stigma: Globular, colored near Red             46A Ovary: Sericeous texture. Approximately 0.3 cm in             diameter. Colored near Red 46B. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Disease and pest resistance.—Not observed to be susceptible             nor resistant to normal diseases and pests of Rhododendron             hybrid.         -   Temperature tolerance.—USDA Zone 6.         -   Fruit/seed production.—Not observed to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Rhododendron plant named ‘HOMLEC’ as herein illustrated and described. 